The invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle, comprising a roof opening provided in a stationary roof part and a closure element which is movable between positions for closing and opening the roof opening and which can assume a tilted position for at least partially opening the roof opening, in which tilted position a rearward edge of the closure element is lifted, and wherein in the region of the opposite longitudinal edges of the closure element telescopingly movable cover members are provided for covering a gap created when the closure element is not in its closure position, where at least one of the cover members is operatively connected to the stationary roof part by means of two longitudinally spaced biasing means for biasing said cover member upwardly away from the stationary roof part.

Open roof constructions of this type are described in DE 3825838 C1 in which the cover members at their forward ends are hingedly connected to a transverse rotation axis.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved open roof construction of the above type.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention the open roof construction is characterized in that said biasing means bias said cover member against the closure element, wherein at a location intermediate the longitudinal forward and rearward ends of said cover member, and in the region of the forward end abutment means are provided for limiting the upward movement of said cover member and wherein the intermediate abutment means defines a pivot for said cover member.

In the fully closed position of the closure element said cover member engages the closure element (or other elements connected therewith) while both biasing means are maximally loaded. When the closure element assumes the tilted position (rearward edge lifted) the corresponding rearward edge of said cover member is pushed upwards by the corresponding biasing means while its forward edge remains substantially in the same position. Thus said cover member assumes an inclined position in which the resulting gap between the closure element and the stationary roof part is effectively covered. When, next, the forward edge of the closure element also would be lifted, the forward edge of said cover member is pushed upwards by the corresponding biasing means. As a result said cover member engages and pivots around the intermediate abutment means (which leads to a lowering of the rearward edge thereof) until the forward abutment means stops this rotational movement. In this position of said cover member its orientation is defined by both abutment means and it disengages the closure element which is free to move, for example slide backwards for freeing the roof opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention the intermediate abutment means is located substantially halfway the longitudinal forward and rearward ends of the closure element. The exact location, however, will be determined by constructional features of the open roof construction (among which dimensions and movement ranges).

Further, it is possible that the intermediate abutment means is defined by the upper end of a guideway for a pivot member of said cover member. This upper end defines the upper position attainable by the pivot member, and thus defines a pivot axis therefor.

Preferably the biasing means are leaf springs. Such leaf springs combine a low weight with a large operating range and fine operating characteristics.

In a special embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention the forward edge of the closure element also can be lifted and the closure element, with its forward and rearward edges lifted, can be slid backwards to at least partially free the roof opening, and the positions of the abutment means are such that in said entirely lifted position of the closure element said cover member engages both abutment means and is disengaged from the closure element.

In such a case it is preferred that the most forward biasing means is constructed to generate a moment around the intermediate abutment means surpassing the moment generated by the rearward biasing means. As a result it is assured that, when the closure element is lifted with its forward and rearward edges, said cover member assumes a position in which it engages both abutment means.

Preferably, the open roof construction according to the invention is constructed such that the cover members comprise said movable cover member, an upper cover member attached to the closure element and a lower stationary closure member attached to the stationary roof part. As a result also large gaps may be covered effectively.

Hereinafter the invention will be elucidated while referring to the drawing, in which:

• figure 1 shows, schematically, a side elevational view of an embodiment of an open roof construction according to the invention in a first, fully closed, position;
• figure 2 shows the open roof construction of figure 2 in a partially open, tilted position, and
• figure 3 shows the open roof construction of figure 1 in an open position.

Firstly referring to figure 1, an open roof construction for a vehicle is shown. It comprises a roof opening 1 provided in a stationary roof part 2 and a closure element 3 which, driven by drive means 4 only indicated schematically in figure 1, is movable between positions for closing and opening the roof opening. Among others, the closure element 3 can assume a tilted position as illustrated in figure 2, in which a rearward edge 5 of the closure element 3 is lifted.

Attached to the lower side of the closure element 3 is an upper cover member 6; a lower cover member 7 is attached to a part 2' of the stationary roof part 2. Intermediate the upper cover member 6 and lower cover member 7 is a cover member 8 to be described later.

In the figures the cover members 6, 7 and 8 are illustrated in a fairly separated manner to better show the characteristics of the present invention. In practice, however, such cover members 6, 7 and 8 will overlap each other to a greater extent such as to obtain a compact construction. Specifically, in the situation shown in figure 1 also cover members 6 and 7 will be in an overlapping relationship.

Cover member 8 is operatively connected to the stationary roof part 2' by means of two longitudinally spaced biasing means 9 and 10 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are defined by leaf springs. Attached to the cover member 8 is a pivot member 11 which is movably housed in a guide way 12 attached to stationary roof part 2'. At its forward end cover member 8 carries an abutment pin 13.

In the closed position of the closure element 3 illustrated in figure 1 cover member 8 (directly or indirectly) engages the closure element 3 and is pushed downwardly against the preload of the leaf springs 9 and 10. The pivot member 11 is positioned below the upper end of the guide way 12.

When, according to figure 2, the rearward edge 5 of closure element 3 is lifted (as indicated schematically by arrow 14) the corresponding rearward part of cover member 8 is free to move upwardly under influence of the force of leaf spring 10. This movement is continued until pivot member 11 abuts the upper end of guide way 12. The forward part of cover member 8 still is engaged by closure element 3 and substantially remains in the same position. As a result cover member 8 asssumes a tilted position as illustrated in figure 2.

When, next, also a forward edge 15 of the closure element 3 is lifted (indicated schematically by arrow 16), also the corresponding forward part of cover member 8 moves upwardly, under influence of leaf spring 9. At the same time, cover member 8 pivots around the combination of pivot member 11 and upper end of guide way 12 (which, in a manner of speaking, defines a pivot for the pivot member 11) such as to assume a position, in which abutment pin 13 abuts the stationary roof part 2 (or any other abutment provided therefor). This situation is shown in figure 3. Now the cover member 8 is lifted entirely, but is disengaged from closure element 3 which, thus, may be moved (in a sliding manner) rearwadly (as indicated by arrow 17) for freeing the roof opening 1.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described before, which may be varied widely within the scope of the invention as defined by the appending claims.